Columns

I grew up, as I’m sure many of you did, with a lot of Italian relatives who married into your family line, but some were a little different. There might be a godmother who doesn’t quite connect to the tree or folks who we call our “uncles” and “aunts,” but were they really related? “Who was Cooma Micheline? Is she a cousin of Nonna?” Nobody seemed to remember. More on them later. For now, let’s focus on actual branches, however tenuously connected to the trunk. The relatives who married in Italy typically are from the same town, or from towns …

How often do we say when a loved one passes away, “I wish I had talked to them more about what they did when they were young”? Those regrets can only be averted when the person is still with us. I’ve always said that everyone has stories to tell but you have to find the time listen and you have to know what to say. I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by so many great people with wonderful stories that are there for the asking. In that vein, when Vilma dal Corrobo asked if I wanted to interview her 108-year-old …

  There is a strong presence of Italian cinema at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, which is underway. In addition to Italy’s six films, Italian actress Matilda De Angelis was named one of European cinema’s shooting stars. The following films will be shown during the festival: “Boys Cry” by Damiano D’Innocenzo and Fabio D’Innocenzo: Panorama Section “Daughter of Mine” by Laura Bispuri: Competition “The Happy Prince” by Rupert Everett: Berlinale Special “Land” by Babak Jalali: Panorama Section “Lornello and Brunello” by Jacopo Quadri: Culinary Cinema “Lobster Dinner” by Gregorio Franchetti: Short films in Generation Kplus Devoted to children and …

You have been saving and saving for years and you’re finally at the closing table signing a huge packet of paperwork. Congratulations! You are now a homeowner! You unlock the door for the first time without your Realtor by your side and it soon sets in — buyer’s remorse — but unlike that coffee pot you purchased last week, you can’t return it for a full refund. To avoid this all-to-common scenario, start with a checklist of what you truly need in your next home. The first thing you need to do is tune out the chatter. As soon as …

There are many ways to get your daily news updates these days. Facebook and Twitter have a lot of news blurbs. Each TV news network has apps and updates, as do the local TV stations. But I’m an old fashioned guy who wakes up in the morning before work, opens the garage door, walks out to the driveway and picks up a fresh copy of the daily newspaper. About three seconds later, I realize I’m not wearing any shoes or socks … Being a genealogist, I don’t begin the morning newspaper with the headlines, local news or sports section. Yes, …

As we recount the passing days of winter and embark upon a new season of “What’s new?” it’s time to look forward to that changeling of seasons known as spring. Winter tapers off and we begin to relax as our wardrobe evolves from protective clothing to a more welcoming style. (No real Chicagoan is concerned about style during the cold months when comfort and warmth is the goal!) I invite you to walk in the footsteps of your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends — and your youth. This is the perfect time of year to come visit …

  The region of Basilicata will be featured this weekend in the PBS show “Dream of Italy.” Host Kathy McCabe explores the stunning landscapes and culinary traditions of the ancient region also known as Lucania. McCabe tours the ancient Sassi of Matera, the towns of the Dolomite Lucani and meets up with Francis Ford Coppola at his resort Palazzo Margherita. Located in Bernalda, the town of Coppola’s Italian origins, McCabe strolls through the resort’s enchanting grounds with the great maestro of cinema and talks with local culinary experts about the pure, locally produced food. Since beginning our series “Basilicata: Land of Cinema” …

Moving into a new home is never easy because there are so many decisions that need to be made. What colors should we paint each room? What kind of tile should we put in the kitchen? Should we remodel the basement now or in a few years? While you’re making these exciting decisions, don’t overlook the more practical ones. Start out by reviewing your home inspection report once again. A good inspector will provide you with a detailed report including plenty of photos and a list of projects that you need to do right away. Completing those items now can …

On December 13, the Fed raised its benchmark rate for the third time this year, this time by a quarter point to 1.5 percent. This is the rate that banks charge each other when they borrower money from each other. Banks raised the prime rate on the news from 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent. The prime rate is a variable rate that controls home equity rates, car loans, commercial loans and credit cards. The Fed decided to increase rates because of a solid economy that has been running at very low employment. In early December, it was reported that the …

Last month we looked at birth certificates and what you can learn from them. This month, we follow with marriage licenses and death certificates. Why do we cram two types of documents into one column? Well, frankly, the Cook County marriage license has so little data that it would be the world’s shortest column! The fact is that Cook County created a format for the marriage license in 1871, and at least as of 1964 the format was relatively the same. The paper is split into two halves. The top half lists the name of the groom and his age, …